Intravenous Antibiotics Sufficient Therapy for Many Deep Neck Abscesses

In this report, the authors from the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical School and Children’s Hospital of Dallas sought to determine the effectiveness of using intravenous (IV) antibiotics alone to treat children with clinically stable deep neck abscesses diagnosed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Using a retrospective chart review and CT-scan review, the authors identified 11 clinically stable patients with contrast-enhanced CT evidence of retropharyngeal, lateral pharyngeal, or combined space abscesses (defined as a well-formed ring enhancement surrounding a non-enhancing density and a size greater than 1 cm in all dimensions) who were initially treated with IV antibiotics without surgical drainage. …